Car Documents in Germany: What to Carry With You and What to Keep at Home
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In Germany, a car usually has two main registration documents: Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I and Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil II. In everyday speech, they are still often called Fahrzeugschein and Fahrzeugbrief. The short rule is this: Teil I is for the driver on the road, while Teil II is kept at home and taken out for a sale, re-registration, a loan, leasing, and other registration procedures.
Which car documents in Germany matter most
German car bureaucracy becomes easier to understand if you divide the paperwork into two groups: what you need during a trip and what you need for transactions or registration procedures. On the road, the most important things are usually your driving licence, the Teil I registration document, and in some situations additional insurance papers or documents for travel abroad. At home, people keep the documents whose loss can block a sale or re-registration.
| Document | What it proves | Where to keep it | When it is needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I / Fahrzeugschein | The car’s registration, permission to drive it on public roads, and basic technical data | With the driver during a trip; do not leave it in the car permanently unless necessary | Roadside checks, service visits, insurance matters, finding parts, trips within Germany and abroad |
| Digital Fahrzeugschein in the i-Kfz app | A digital form of Teil I for supported situations within Germany | In the official smartphone app | Everyday checks and use within Germany; for trips abroad it is more practical to take the paper original |
| Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil II / Fahrzeugbrief | Registration details important for disposing of the car in dealings with the authorities | At home, in a safe, a bank deposit box, or with the bank if the car is financed | Sale, re-registration, a loan, leasing, restoring documents |
| Kaufvertrag / Rechnung | The fact of the transaction, the price, the transfer date, and the parties to the contract | In the folder with the car documents | Ownership disputes, proof of purchase, sale, restoration of some documents |
| HU-Bericht | The latest result of the Hauptuntersuchung | At home together with the car documents | Registration, sale, checking the date of the next inspection |
Digitalization has added new terms. The i-Kfz app is the app for a digital Fahrzeugschein. i-Kfz as an online procedure means online vehicle registration: you can use it to complete some registration steps if the vehicle, the documents, and the local process support online handling.
It is also important to distinguish between the Halter and the owner. The Halter is the person or company in whose name the vehicle is registered and who is usually linked to the tax, insurance, and letters from the authorities. The civil-law owner may be the same as the Halter, but it may also be someone else, for example in the case of leasing, a loan, or family arrangements.
Older German documents with the names Fahrzeugschein and Fahrzeugbrief do not have to be replaced just because they use the old wording. They usually remain valid until a registration event during which the authority issues new documents.
Important: the Zulassungsbescheinigung itself does not expand the list of drivers covered by the insurance contract. Before letting your spouse, friend, or relative use the car, check the terms of your car insurance in Germany.
Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I: the document for the road
Teil I is the “small brief” that confirms the car’s registration and contains the basic technical details. This is the document usually shown during a roadside check together with your driving licence.
In Germany, the paper Teil I can be supplemented with a digital version in the i-Kfz app if the vehicle and the user meet the app’s requirements. But the digital version does not eliminate the practical value of the paper original, especially for travel abroad, technical issues, a sale, or situations where the other side does not work with the German app.
Keeping Teil I in the glove compartment all the time is not the best idea. If the car is broken into or stolen, the document inside the vehicle can complicate recovery and the follow-up process. It is more practical to keep it with you while driving and put it in a safe place after the trip.
The first part of car documents in Germany
There are many fields in Teil I, but in everyday life a few lines are the most useful.
| Field | What it means | When it helps |
|---|---|---|
| B | Date of first registration | Sale, insurance, checking the age of the car |
| C.1 | Details of the person or company in whose name the vehicle is registered | Document checks, insurance, questions about the Halter |
| D.1 / D.2 / D.3 | Make, type, version, and commercial model name | Finding parts, insurance, checking the exact configuration |
| E | VIN, the vehicle identification number | Checking history, buying, service, registration procedures |
| 2.1 / 2.2 | HSN and TSN: manufacturer and type | Insurance calculation, selecting spare parts, comparing modifications |
| P.1 / P.2 / P.3 | Engine displacement, power, and fuel or energy type | Service, taxes, buying a car |
| F.1 / F.2 | Permitted maximum mass | Transport, loading, installing additional equipment |
| O.1 / O.2 | Permitted trailer weight with and without brakes | Caravan, trailer, car transporter |
| S.1 | Number of seats | Checking the interior configuration |
| 15.1-15.3 | Tire sizes by axle | Buying tires and checking approval |
| V.9 / 14.1 | Emissions class and emissions code | Germany’s low-emission zones and the Umweltplakette |
| K | European type-approval number | Import, technical disputes, searching for type data |
Field B is often mistaken for the production date. In fact, it is the date of first registration. The year of manufacture and the month of assembly are usually not obvious in a standard Teil I, and the engine number is generally not used in everyday situations involving German registration documents. For identification, the VIN in field E, the manufacturer data, and the service history are more important.
Another common trap concerns tires. Teil I may not list the full set of permitted sizes. Extended options are often checked in the COC, additional documents from the manufacturer, or records approving a specific wheel combination.
Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil II: the large brief for transactions
The second part of car documents in Germany
Teil II is almost never needed on the road. But without it, a sale, re-registration, arranging a loan, leasing, or restoring documents may come to a halt. This document is shown not to the police on the road, but to a buyer, a bank, a leasing company, or the Zulassungsstelle.
The main nuance is that Teil II is not absolute proof of ownership. It is important for registration procedures, but a dispute over who owns the car may be decided on the basis of the purchase contract, payment, transfer of the car and keys, correspondence between the parties, and loan or leasing documents.
When buying a car, situations are especially risky if the seller provides only Teil I, promises to send Teil II later, or cannot explain why the names in the documents do not match. For a safe transaction, you need a clear chain: inspection of the car, a purchase contract, both parts of the registration certificate, and the transfer of money, keys, and the car at the agreed time.
The large brief usually shows the current and previous registered holder, while the complete history of all former owners is not disclosed. If the car is financed, Teil II is often kept by the bank or leasing company until the debt is paid off in full. This is normal practice in Germany, but before buying such a car you need to understand who is entitled to dispose of it.
Teil II should not be kept in the car. Its place is at home, in a safe, a bank deposit box, or with the lender if the car is financed.
Which papers are needed besides Teil I and Teil II
In real life, a car owner quickly ends up with a folder of additional documents. You do not need it for a normal trip around town, but without it you can easily lose time at the Zulassungsstelle or end up in a dispute after a purchase.
| Document | What it is | When it is needed |
|---|---|---|
| Kaufvertrag / Rechnung | A purchase agreement or an invoice from the dealer | Proof of the transaction, the price, the transfer date, and the parties |
| eVB-Nummer | Electronic proof of insurance | Registration, re-registration, export plates, and short-term plates |
| HU-Bericht | The report of the latest Hauptuntersuchung | Registration, sale, restoration of documents, checking the date of the next inspection |
| COC | Certificate of Conformity, the European certificate of conformity | First registration, import, clarifying technical data, and permitted tires |
| Vollmacht | Authorization for registration procedures | When the Zulassungsstelle is visited by a dealer, spouse, service, or another representative |
| SEPA-Mandat for Kfz-Steuer | Authorization to collect vehicle tax | Often required during registration or re-registration |
If the car came from another country, you may need foreign registration documents, customs papers, proof of type approval, and additional inspections. In such cases, it helps to check separate materials on importing a car into Germany, registering a car, and vehicle inspection in Germany. The “large brief” alone does not solve every issue here.
What to do if the documents are lost or stolen
Losing Teil I and losing Teil II have different consequences. The small document is needed during a trip, while the large one blocks a sale and some registration procedures.
| Situation | Can you still use the car? | What to do first | What is important to remember |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teil I is lost or stolen | Driving without the document is risky because you must show it during a check | If it was stolen, report it to the police, then apply to the Zulassungsstelle for a replacement | A photo or an ordinary copy does not replace the original. If the old document is found, it usually has to be surrendered |
| Teil II is lost or stolen | Usually you can still drive, but you will not be able to sell or properly re-register the car | Inform the Zulassungsstelle; if it was stolen, also report it to the police | Replacement takes longer, and a loss declaration and additional proof may be required |
When replacing documents, the authority may ask for ID, the remaining part of the registration certificate, the HU-Bericht, proof of purchase, and other papers depending on the situation. That is why it is better to keep the contract, the inspection report, and important letters at home rather than in the car.
Common mistakes
- Carrying Teil II with you. The large brief is not needed for an ordinary trip and is too important to leave in the car.
- Treating Teil II as ironclad proof of ownership. In an ownership dispute, the whole transaction matters, not just the registration paper.
- Buying a car with unclear document history. Mismatched names, a missing Teil II, or a promise to “send it later” are reasons to pause and check.
- Confusing the date of first registration with the production date. Field B shows the first registration, not necessarily when the car was manufactured.
- Relying only on a photo of Teil I. For official situations, you need an acceptable form of the document, not just a photo on your phone.
- Letting another driver use the car without checking the insurance. The vehicle documents do not change the terms of the policy.
Frequently asked questions about car documents
Can I register a car in my name if I do not have a driving licence yet? Yes. A driving licence is not always a requirement for registration itself. But you cannot drive the car without a valid licence.
Can another person drive my car? Yes, if they have the appropriate driving licence, your actual permission to use the car, and your insurance contract allows it. The car documents themselves do not expand the list of drivers.
Is a photo or copy of Teil I enough? For an ordinary roadside check, a photo or a simple copy is not the same as the original. A digital Fahrzeugschein in the i-Kfz app may be used in Germany, but for trips abroad it is better to take the paper original.
Can a car be re-registered with only Teil I? Usually not. To change the registered holder, sell the car, and complete most procedures with the Zulassungsstelle, you need Teil II. If it has been lost, you will first have to deal with the replacement.
Why are there two names in Teil II, and does that mean the car has two owners? No. The new large brief usually shows the current and previous registered holder, not the full legal history of ownership.
What should I do if Teil I and Teil II show different people? Do not ignore it. Before buying, the seller should explain the registration chain and prove the right to dispose of the car. If the explanation is unconvincing, it is better to stop the transaction.
Is the engine number listed in German car documents? In everyday registration documents, people usually rely on the VIN in field E rather than the engine number.
Is Teil II proof of ownership? Not by itself, not always. In a disputed situation, the contract, payment, transfer of the car, the keys, correspondence, and loan or leasing documents matter more.
